FLAGS OF OUR FATHERS

Label: Milan 36203
Date: 2006
Tracks: 20
Time = 59:41

Original soundtrack from Clint Eastwood filming of events surrounding iconic flag-raising at Iwo Jima, starring Ryan Phillippe, Jesse Bradford, Adam Beach. Clint Eastwood scores for orchestra, balances moving themes with dark, string-dominated ideas but avoids current trend of war scoring (long string elegies), instead creates symphonic picture of war with solo trumpet, military percussion, dark string chords colored by addition of French horn, wisps of Native American flavor, piano solos, variety of other ideas. Eastwood approaches battle music in interesting manner: dark colors, percussion hits, other ideas suggest primitive quality but rhythm, actions aren't spotlighted. Rather, Eastwood creates tension through increasing density. It's layered. "Flag Raising" is striking for what it isn't: rather than frame famous sequence with brassy anthem, Eastwood simply gives it a certain weight via chords in low strings, brief tattoos from snare. Melodic ideas emerge with "The Medals" but Eastwood keeps them gently subdued. Understatement is key. "Platoon Swims" affords composer his biggest moment: as solo piano, melodic ideas come to climax, brass finally unfold. Still, complex harmonic scheme is primary, broad patriotic mood is secondary. The "Flags Theme" plays less as melodic line, more as cerebral, thought-provoking mood. Subsequent end titles are gentle, major-key led tributes in highly personalized fashion, closing with solitary singing voice fading away. CD melds Eastwood score with period songs, Sousa marches, Mozart selections. Beautifully engineered by Bobby Fernandez, conducted by Lennie Niehaus.

1. The Photograph 2. I'll Walk Alone - Performed by Dinah Shore (Sammy Cahn and Jule Styne) 3. Knock Knock (Kyle Eastwood, Michael Stevens, Andrew McCormack, Graeme Flowers) 4. Wounded Marines 5. The Thunderer (John Philip Sousa) 6. Armada Arrives 7. Goodbye Ira 8. Symphony In G Minor, 3rd Movement (Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart) 9. String Quartet Opus #6, 2nd Movement (Joseph Haydn) 10. Inland Battle 11. Flag Raising 12. Any Bonds Today? (Irving Berlin) 13. Summit Ridge Drive - Performed by Artie Shaw and His Gramercy Five (Artie Shaw) 14. Vict'ry Polka (Sammy Cahn and Jule Styne) 15. The Medals 16. Platoon Swims 17. Washington Post March (John Philip Sousa) 18. Flags Theme 19. End Titles 20. End Titles Guitar